World’s Worst Records – Alison Gold’s Chinese Food
Our expert on the worst of the worst, the honourable MATT KELLY, gets stuck into a very dubious release that verges on culturally insensitive.
Moon Unit Zappa’s memoir: a ripping rock and roll read
The original valley girl’s memoir is an acutely observed and at times shocking tell-all about growing up in the dysfunctional family of a 1970s
World’s Worst Records – Dizzee Rascal’s The Fifth
Dizzee Rascal has made some acclaimed albums but The Fifth isn't one of them, writes MATT KELLY, who rues just how low the rapper
Megalopolis is a ghastly mess
ASHTON BROWN checks out legendary film director Francis Ford Coppola's new opus expecting to be wowed, but gets annoyed and falls asleep instead.
The best (and worst) streaming TV shows & films right now
A regular column in which GARY STEEL sifts through the mountain of available streaming TV and brings your attention to great new and old
Run for your life, aliens attacking!
ASHTON BROWN immerses himself in the latest hit from the long-running Alien franchise. Will it be a surprising and original take or simply more
Isthmus microbrewery: life begins at the hop
In this month's Crafty Corner column, ASHTON BROWN discovers that his allergy wasn't caused by beer after all and gets stuck into some super-fine
Spring sipping – wine reviews
PHIL PARKER celebrates the hint of warmer temperatures and the slow segue into summer with another selection of tasty wines.
Fine family wines from Aotearoa
This month PHIL PARKER features wine from two iconic NZ producers, Sir George Fistonich and Pegasus Bay's Donaldson family.
The format wars suck
GARY STEEL has been thinking about vinyl vs. streaming vs. compact discs (etc) and just wants it all to stop.
Samsung’s Galaxy Flip 6: Flipping brilliant
If you've been holding off until flip phones got so good that any flaws are negligible PAT PILCHER reckons that with Samsung's Flip 6,
Who you jiving with that cosmic debris? Zappa’s Apostrophe (’) at 50
Frank Zappa’s most popular album gets a chunky six-disc elaboration. GARY STEEL wonders whether it warrants the attention.
Leave no online trace with Norton VPN
There are some compelling reasons for subscribing to a VPN, but what even is a VPN? PAT PILCHER reviews an especially reliable contender and
Samsung’s rugged new Ultra Watch on the test bench
PAT PILCHER tries Samsung’s rugged new smartwatch on for size and finds that this handsome beast has plenty to recommend it.
How to make Google Gemini the Default Android Assistant
PAT PILCHER takes Google's new Gemini AI assistant for a spin and tells you everything you need to know to get this latest greatest
World’s Worst Records – Alison Gold’s Chinese Food
Our expert on the worst of the worst, the honourable MATT KELLY, gets stuck into a very dubious release that verges on culturally insensitive.
Deebot X5 Pro Omni: so good it’s practically human
Our resident robot vacuum expert, PAT PILCHER, puts the latest AI-assisted cleaner through its paces and is astounded at its near-human ability to detect
Megalopolis is a ghastly mess
ASHTON BROWN checks out legendary film director Francis Ford Coppola's new opus expecting to be wowed, but gets annoyed and falls asleep instead.
Isthmus microbrewery: life begins at the hop
In this month's Crafty Corner column, ASHTON BROWN discovers that his allergy wasn't caused by beer after all and gets stuck into some super-fine
